Here are the types of cancer that the Mediterranean diet can prevent

Three studies conducted by the Carlos III Institute of Public Health (ISCIII) and the Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP) support the idea that dietary recommendations should take into account overall dietary patterns rather than individual foods, and confirm that the adoption of dietary habits. Western eating patterns favoring the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer.

The three papers, published in the scientific journals Maturitas, British Journal of Urology International and Nutrients, are part of the EPIC-Spain project and were developed by the ISCIII National Epidemiological Center team led by Adela Castello. and Marina Pollan, and also appointed to the Epidemiology and Public Health Unit (CIBERESP) of CIBER-ISCIII, as well as researchers Miguel Rodriguez Barranco and Maria José Sánchez from EASP and CIBERESP, as well as researchers from other EPIC-Spain centers.

Miguel Rodriguez emphasizes “the importance of being careful with the conclusions of these latest studies, since a diet fully consistent with the Western model is not synonymous with the development of cancer, and strict adherence to the Mediterranean diet does not guarantee complete prevention.” .

In any case, the authors of this study believe that it is important to convey to us that the consumption of typical Western foods should be reduced and the consumption of typical Mediterranean foods should be increased.

That is, reduce the consumption of full-fat dairy products, bread, rice and white pasta, sausages, hamburgers, sausages and other meat products, sugary soft drinks, juices, sweets, baked goods, ready meals and sauces in favor of a diet high in sugar. availability of whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish and olive oil. “This simple change can significantly reduce your risk of cancer,” says Adela Castelló.

Castello, a researcher from CNE-ISCIII and CIBERESP, reiterates that “the increased availability of processed foods in recent decades, together with a decrease in time for traditional food preparation, could change the diet of people who had high adherence” to the Mediterranean diet at the beginning of the study, in 1990 ‘s, which evolved toward more Western habits, thereby weakening the protective effect of this type of diet against the tumors studied.”

People in the EPIC-Spain study who followed a strict Western diet showed in three published studies a double risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer, a 37 percent greater risk of breast cancer, and a 53 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer. cancer.

On the other hand, strict adherence to the Prudente diet was not associated with the risk of developing any of the tumors studied. Finally, participants with high adherence to the Mediterranean pattern had a 16 percent lower risk of developing colorectal cancers than participants with low adherence.

On the one hand, the so-called Western pattern is a type of diet that emphasizes the consumption of large amounts of full-fat dairy products, processed meats, refined grains, sweets, prepared foods, sauces and sugary drinks. The so-called “prudence pattern” is characteristic of people who are concerned about their weight and consume a lot of low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and juices.

Meanwhile, people who follow the Mediterranean pattern also frequently consume fruits and vegetables, but seem to be less concerned about their weight, adding legumes, fish, boiled potatoes and olive oil to their diet and choosing to consume whole fruits instead. swallowing them with juices.